Prescott's Present Pride and Index of the City to Be.Saturday afternoon last the Courier mail visited the Elks, theater building, which looms up so prominently from its central site in this city., with the artistic public library building nestling beside Its east wall; the fine Bank of Arizona building in the shadow of its west wall, and the compact and massive National Bank building diagonally across the street--the whole making a group creditable to any city; while the Elks' theater building itself is not only Prescott's pride, but the index of the city to be, for Prescott can double its population, arid the Elks' theater building will still be in the front rank of the city's modern advancement, for the peer of that theater is not found east of San Francisco until the great cities of the Mississippi valley are reached, and even there our theater is out-classed only as to size, for our theater is. about as perfect as the handiwork of man generally gets to be, and its perfection, which blands harmony in every detail, gives rise to thought that its massive walls grew under those propitious conditions which ever attend all undertakings which are laved by waves of ennobling thought from the concentrated good wishes arid God speed of men organized for the good fellowship and happiness of mankind.

 
Upon entering the building every condition is so pleasing that if the brow should be fanned with invisible spirit wings and a chorus of spirit voices should cause the air to vibrate with the word "Harmony", no surprise would be occasioned, and that word fully describes the impression of the mail of thought.

The people of Prescott will remember when the local lodge of Elks first Commenced to talk of building the much needed opera house  for this city, and for years there had been so much of this opera house talk that, all had the best wishes., 'hope was small; for we have had opera house talk along the years past--in fact ever since the large grain elevator and fell ally  (?) of doctors and drug stores, called the Patton opera house, ceased to masquerade as such. But the opera house talk of our local Elks had materialized in a manner which shows that the lodge is composed of men of deeds as well as talk, and that building will ever stand to be admired by generations yet to come, as a monument of this fact.

It was on the 3d of April, 1904, that many of our people assembled at the impressive ceremonies attendant upon the laying of the corner stone of this building, and even then, while many believed in a general sort of a way that the building would be erected: Some time. in the dim. and distant future, few realized that it would be completed so soon. The ambition of the Elks grew as the building progressed and as a result, there is a three-story Instead of a two-story building, as originally contemplated.

John JR. Minor is the architect and superintendent of construction of the. building, and through his courtesy show g us through the building and giving the benefit of some of his technical knowledge, we are enabled to more intelligently give a rather incomplete description of the building, as follows:

The foundation work is of native granite. On the massive, polished granite corner stone, at the northwest corner, is carved:


The lower front floor Is occupied by four stores--two on either side of the main entrance to the building. These stores are of modern design,, with plate glass windows, end the stores on either side of the main entrance have show windows opening on the north end of-the foyer.
The ticket office will be at the west side and south end of the foyer and at the foot of the stairway leading both into the auditorium and up to the galleries of the theater.

The street car line., extending east and west through the city., passes in front of the building.

Upon ascending the steps and entering the auditorium to the or right is the gentlemen's parlor, and an the opposite side the ladies' parlor. Both are equipped with drinking fountains lavatories and other conveniences; and both are commodious, The gentlemen's room has a smoke flue, extending to the roof., though which all cigar smoke Will Promptly disappear.

There are eight private boxes, four on either side of and overlooking the stage.

The seating capacity of the theater is 900.

There are eight dressing rooms and a large property room under the stage. The stage is 25x6O feet- the gridiron is 43 feet; and is built of sand stone brick with granite foundation and window dressing;
the cost of the building -was $75,000; the theater has $5, 000 worth of elegant scenery and other theater equipment.

The entire building is steam heated, has water and sewer system and is electrically lighted.

Over the stage is a skylight, which can be automatically opened or shut., in case of fire.

The stage is provided with a beautifully finished asbestor curtain, which cost $400. It is the only asbestor theater curtain in Arizona, In case the stage scenery should catch fire, this curtain can be dropped and the fire will not penetrate it for about 15 minutes.

Large doors open from back of the stage upon a public alley, and there are doors opening upon the same alley from the dressing rooms under the stage.

There are eight exits from the theater, four from the gallery and four from the lower floor; the foyer is 21 feet wide.

The opera chairs are all 22 inches wide, the largest made, and are of elegant finish and are comfortable. A lean man can sit on them for hours without having his bones make holes in his pants.

There are five fire plugs in the building-one in the property room, one on each side of the stage, one in the balcony and one in the foyer.

The electric lighting system of the building is controlled by a switch board located On the stage.

The opera chairs in the dress circle are placed oil elevated movable incline floor, so that the whole can be taken out when room is needed for dancing.

The balcony and galleries are supported by iron rods which are fastened to the massive beams which support the roof, thus giving a floor below clear of pillars or posts. This auditorium floor is
60x6O feet. The flooring is of hard maple.

The second story of the building has twelve large office rooms which surround a hall 40x45 feet. In the center of this hall will be placed a large drinking fountain. The rooms will have telephone service, wash basins and other up to date conveniences. In this hall will be a mineral exhibit; it being the intention, to make this floor a mining exchange and to rent the rooms to mining men.

The third story has two large lodge rooms with a spacious hall between.     The hall is 21x51 feet, and each lodge room is 32x48 feet. Both lodge rooms have ante rooms    The ceilings are arched and of ornamented sheet metal, as is the ceiling of the theater below.  There are front balconies to the second and third stories. The views to be had from every one of the many windows Of the upper stories are sweeping and grand.

The drop curtain of the theater has a mountain woodland scene of much beauty.

There is among the stage scenery a palace scene which is of extraordinary beauty, as well as of startling reproduction.

On the frontal arch above the stage are the figures of two ladies holding a watch, the hands of which point to 11 p.m.  These ladies are of fine form and feature and are costumed as Mother Eve was before she thought of making dresses of fig leaves,

Artificial Elks heads project from various points with pleasing effect.     This is-called staff work. From the central arch of the theater roof is suspended a moon shaped ring bearing. a cluster of electric lights, which can be raised or lowered at pleasure.

The entrance to the Senegambian heaven is by stairways from the main entrance and not by tortuous back entrance as usual--a great improvement.

From the center of the arched roof of the opera house to the floor below., the distance is 33 feet. The painting is green and white gold trimmed. The wainscoating is of green burlap.

Later an a life size bronze elk will be placed on the top front of the building.

The local lodge of Elks are naturally very proud of their fine building and splendid theater, which the Courier says is Prescott's present pride and index of the city to be.

The Elks will use one of the third story lodge rooms and rent the other. Both rooms are exactly alike as to size., conveniences and equipment.

Prescott weekly Courier., Feb. 10, 1905

Prescott Weekly Courier Feb. 17, 1905

The Florence Roberts Troupe appeared at the Elks theater last evening in "Marta of the Lowlands", which proved to be a strong and intensely interesting play and was remarkable well presented, certainly a most fitting entertainment for our new theatre, which is a gem in its class.  The people of Prescott are justly proud of that theatre.  The orchestra, composed entirely of home musical talent, was frequently applauded, and the music was by no means a small feature of the evening's enjoyment.

Prescott Morning Courier Feb. 21 1905

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